Mapping the AmericasWhat was going on in the Americas during 600-1450?

Geographic Challenges

South America too…Despite enduring differences in language Despite enduring differences in language and an absence of regional political and an absence of regional political integration (likely due to geography), there integration (likely due to geography), there were things all Mesoamerican cultures of were things all Mesoamerican cultures of this time period had in common:this time period had in common:

•Religion and belief systemsReligion and belief systems

•Social structuresSocial structures

•Material cultureMaterial culture

Placing civilizations in appropriate place and time…

http://www.ballgame.org/sub_section.asp?section=1&sub_section=1

Major Mesoamerican Civilizations, 1000 B.C.E.-1519

Teotihuacan – Classical Era(earlier of the two eras we will cover today)

• Teotihuacan = large Mesoamerican cityTeotihuacan = large Mesoamerican city

• 450–600 c.e. 450–600 c.e.

• Population of 125,000 to 150,000 Population of 125,000 to 150,000 inhabitantsinhabitants

• Dominated by religious structures, Dominated by religious structures, including pyramids and temples including pyramids and temples where human sacrifice was carried where human sacrifice was carried outout

Teotihuacan (con’t)

The growth of Teotihuacan was made possible by forced relocation of farm families to the city and by agricultural innovations, including irrigation works and chinampas (“floating gardens”) that increased production and thus supported a larger population.

The elite lived in residential compounds separate from the commoners, and controlled the state bureaucracy, tax collection, and commerce.

Teotihuacan appears to have been ruled by alliances of wealthy families rather than by kings Elites controlled land, farming, taxation in Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan collapse: ~750 c.e. Mismanagement of resources and conflict within the

elite, or as a result of invasion?

The 411 on The Mayan

A single culture living in present-day Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, the Yucatan Peninsula Various kingdoms fought for regional

dominance City-states were central to the political

organization Agriculture was successful due Mayan’s ability

to drain swamps and create elevated fields Military forces fought for captives; not territory

Why? Captives were sacrificed to gods

Big Picture

Teotihuacan, biggest, early Mesoamerican city was ruled by elites– Classical Era Impressive urban architecture Collapsed in 750 CE = mismanagement by

elites?

Mayans: Mayans shared single culture: city-states,

religious-inspired architecture Maya devised elaborate calendars system,

concept of zero, form of hieroglyphic writing Human sacrifice used by Maya

Great Plaza at Tikal

Ballgame

Palace doorway lintel, Maya

Palace doorway is symbolic of the peak of Maya civilization Palace doorway is symbolic of the peak of Maya civilization (ca. 600-699)(ca. 600-699)

• Attained a level of intellectual and artistic development Attained a level of intellectual and artistic development equaled by no other Amerindian people.equaled by no other Amerindian people.

•Developed a sophisticated system of writingDeveloped a sophisticated system of writing

• Invented a calendar more accurate than the European Invented a calendar more accurate than the European Gregorian calendarGregorian calendar

• Made advances in mathematics that Europeans did not Made advances in mathematics that Europeans did not match for several centuriesmatch for several centuries

Mayan and Aztec Cities

Mayan and Aztec Cities continued

http://www.ancientmexico.com/content/map/index.html

http://archaeology.la.asu.edu/teo/ http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/aztecs1.htm

Tenochtitlan – The Aztecs

Agriculture and Trade

The Aztecs increased agricultural production in The Aztecs increased agricultural production in the capital area by undertaking land reclamation the capital area by undertaking land reclamation projects and constructing irrigated fields and projects and constructing irrigated fields and chinampas. Nonetheless, grain and other food chinampas. Nonetheless, grain and other food tribute met nearly one-quarter of the capital’s tribute met nearly one-quarter of the capital’s food requirements.food requirements.

Merchants who were distinct from and Merchants who were distinct from and subordinate to the political elite controlled long-subordinate to the political elite controlled long-distance trade. The technology of trade was distance trade. The technology of trade was simple: simple: no wheeled vehiclesno wheeled vehicles, , draft animals, or draft animals, or money was usedmoney was used. Goods were carried by human . Goods were carried by human porters and exchanged through barter.porters and exchanged through barter.

Chinampas

Goddess Tlazolteotl

Big Picture– Post Classic Period

In post classic era, professional militaries allowed Mesoamerican elites to create empires 1st Toltecs; capital Tula

After Toltecs, the Aztecs gradually built an Empire from their island center of Tenochtitlan, which became powerful from forced transfers of labor and goods of defeated peoples (tribute system!)

The Aztec religion, reflected a permanent state of war, demanding increasing human sacrifice

Aztec merchants controlled long-distance trade, and Aztec women had substantial power

Land of the Anasazi(northern people, present-day USA)

Mesa Verde Cliff Dwelling

Andean Civilizations, 200 B.C.E. - 1532

Incan Empire—High in the Andes

Expansion of the Empire

Road System

Machu Picchu

http://www.incas.homestead.com/inca_civilization.html

Big Picture- Andean Civilizations

Andean societies developed despite geographic challenges Arid coastlands Cold highlands Tropical rainforest

Ayllu (clans) and mit’a (laborers) provided the social base for Andean socio-political organization

Moche developed a powerful state based on irrigated agriculture, exchange b/t ecological regions, and powerful religious elite

Incans: From small chiefdom to power military empire Roads, irrigation networks, terracing Broken by Civil War though on the eve of

European arrival

Inca Tunic

Question

The Inca civilization was originally based on

A. control of religious institutions.

B. military dominance.

C. reciprocal gift giving and the redistribution of textiles.

D. the control of jade, like the Olmec civilization.

Answer

The Inca civilization was originally based on

A. control of religious institutions.

B. military dominance.

C. reciprocal gift giving and the redistribution of textiles. (correct)

D. the control of jade, like the Olmec civilization.

Hint: See page 360.

Question

Mesoamerica was never united

A. politically.

B. economically.

C. religiously.

D. culturally.

Answer

Mesoamerica was never united

A. politically. (correct)

B. economically.

C. religiously.

D. culturally.

Hint: See page 340.

Question

The Maya cosmos was divided into three layers

A. that connected along a vertical axis that traced the course of the moon.

B. that connected along a horizontal axis that traced the course of life and death.

C. that connected along a horizontal axis that traced the course of the sun.

D. that connected along a vertical axis that traced the course of the sun.

Question

The Mesoamerican ball game

A. was played only by women.

B. exemplified the frivolous lifestyle of elites.

C. had deep religious meaning.

D. was meant to entertain, not enlighten.

Answer

The Mesoamerican ball game

A. was played only by women.

B. exemplified the frivolous lifestyle of elites.

C. had deep religious meaning. (correct)

D. was meant to entertain, not enlighten.

Hint: See page 346.

Timing? (It’s confusing, huh?)

Early, early (BCE) = Olmecs, Chavins 100 CE = Teotihuacan temple complex built 250 CE = Maya early classic period begins ~750 CE= Teotihuacan destroyed 800-900 CE = Maya centers abandoned, end of classic

period Start of post classic period 968 CE = Toltec capital of Tula founded 1175 Tula destroyed 1325 Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan (“teno-cheat-lan”)

founded 1430s Inca expansion begins 1500 decline of “northern peoples” society: “Anasazi” 1500-1525 Inca conquer Ecuador Europeans arrive